Guwahati:

Days after President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur, protests could be seen at different parts of Valley areas. While the Kuki-dominated hill districts welcomed the Central government’s decision, the civil society organisations based in Meitei-dominated valley districts have been demanding the revocation of the decision.

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity demanded the revocation of President’s Rule and asked the Central Government to reinstate the popular government. 

Ten MLAs from the Kuki community, however, have welcomed the decision.

Different women’s groups from Imphal East gathered at Thumbutgong Brahmapur areas today and shouted slogans, demanding a popular government in the state as soon as possible.

Talking to media persons, woman volunteer BM Roji said people are angry and suffering due to political instability in the state. Different Meira Paibi organisations are protesting against the Central government’s decision to impose President’s Rule, she said.

After many tribal organisations of Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities, 10 Manipur tribal MLAs, who have also been demanding separate administrations or a Union Territory with the legislature for tribals in the state, expressed hope today that the Centre would lay out a comprehensive political roadmap for peace.  

The ten tribal legislators, of which seven belong to the BJP, while acknowledging the Centre’s decision to place the Manipur Assembly under suspended animation, expressed hope that the government would lay out a comprehensive political roadmap for peace and justice under a negotiated settlement.

“We also look forward to time-bound measures to end the sufferings that the conflict-affected and internally displaced people continue to undergo,” the MLAs said in a joint statement.
 

Imphal:

Defying curfew, members of various civil society organisations on Tuesday held a rally in Manipur’s Imphal West district to protest against the reimposition of AFSPA in parts of the northeastern state.
The procession was, however, stopped by the police at Keisampat junction as it defied curfew orders clamped in view of recent violence in the northeastern state.

Members of All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur and other local bodies took out the rally from the Kwakeithel area in the district and covered around 3.5 km before being stopped, a protester said.

“We strongly condemn the reimposition of AFSPA in areas under six police stations. A firing incident occurred in Jiribam district just a few days after AFSPA was reimposed in Jiribam,” he said.

He referred to the Jiribam firing incident which left one person dead and another injured on Sunday night.

The incident occurred during a clash between security forces and a mob that was vandalising properties in the Babupara area of Jiribam.

The AFSPA gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary for the “maintenance of public order”.

The Centre has recently reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Manipur’s six police station areas, including the violence-hit Jiribam.

In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said the decision was taken given the continuous volatile situation there due to the ongoing ethnic violence.

The police station areas where AFSPA has been reimposed are Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West, Lamlai in Imphal East, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi and Moirang in Bishnupur.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Imphal:

Civil society groups in Manipur have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the state government, demanding decisive action against armed militant groups. Manipur witnessed unrest again Saturday evening after a mob attempted to breach the residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

Security forces deployed tear gas to disperse the mob, which had gathered in anger following the discovery of six missing bodies in Jiribam district. Among the dead were an infant and two women, intensifying public outrage over the government’s alleged inaction and lack of communication.

The bodies, including that of an eight-month-old child, were recovered from the Barak River in Jiribam. These individuals had been missing since Monday, following violent clashes where 10 armed Kuki men were killed in a gunfight with security forces.

“All the representatives of the states and all the MLAs should sit together and take some decisive action to resolve this crisis as soon as possible,” said Khuraijam Athouba, spokesperson of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Meitei civil rights group. “If they don’t take any decision up to the satisfaction of the people of Manipur, then they will bear the brunt of the people’s discontentment. We have set a 24-hour ultimatum for the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to take some decisive action and military crackdown against all armed groups.” 

The imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in six police station areas has also been slammed. Civil society groups argue that the law, which grants sweeping powers to security forces, has only deepened the mistrust and anger among the local population.

The COCOMI has demanded immediate military action against militants and the repeal of AFSPA. Spokesperson Athouba warned of severe public backlash if their demands were not met within 24 hours.

Protesters on Saturday attacked the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs. Among the targets was Chief Minister Singh’s son-in-law, BJP MLA RK Imo Singh. Protesters vandalised the MLA’s home and set his property on fire. Similar attacks were reported at the homes of Municipal Administration Minister Y Khemchand and Consumer Affairs Minister L Susindro Singh, with security forces resorting to tear gas to quell the mobs.

The residence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Sapam Ranjan also came under siege. A representative from the Lamphel Sanakeithel Development Authority stated that Ranjan assured protesters he would raise their demands in a cabinet meeting and even resign if the government failed to act decisively.

In response to the escalating violence, the state government imposed indefinite curfews in five districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, and Kakching. Internet services were suspended across seven districts as authorities struggled to contain the situation.

Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi ordered the suspension of internet and mobile data services, citing the potential for misinformation and further escalation of violence.

The ongoing clashes between the Meitei community and nearly two dozen tribes collectively known as the Kukis – a term introduced during British colonial rule – have claimed over 220 lives and displaced nearly 50,000 people within Manipur. 

The Meiteis, classified as a general category group, are seeking inclusion under the Scheduled Tribes category while Kukis, who share ethnic ties with Myanmar’s Chin State and Mizoram, are advocating for a separate administration carved out of Manipur. 

New Delhi:

Congress MP from Inner Manipur A Bimol Akoijam has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, expressing deep anguish over the “unprecedented violent crisis” in Manipur and calling for “corrective measures” such as ensuring that the security forces act decisively to rein in the violence. In his letter to Mr Shah on Tuesday, Akoijam also called for thoroughly investigating the allegations of involvement by illegal immigrants, foreign elements and illicit drug mafia in the present crisis.

He wrote that the current situation in Manipur evokes memories of the partition of India in 1947, which is especially painful given the government’s recent efforts to commemorate August 14 as “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day”, and said Mr Shah would also have been deeply hurt if the same were to happen to Gujarat.

“It is distressing that such a severe crisis has unfolded under the present administration’s watch,” he said.

“It pains me to bring this reminder to you that this violence has led to the loss of precious human lives in hundreds and about 60,000 people have been rendered homeless.

“Just as I write this letter, not only thousands of those internally displaced persons (IDPs) are still languishing in relief camps under deplorable conditions but this unprecedented violence has also remained unabated to date,” Mr Akoijam said.

In fact, the violence has further taken a dangerous turn, with the loss of lives and property as a result of aerial attacks, reportedly involving weaponised drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and rockets/missiles, the Congress MP said in his letter to Mr Shah.

“Besides, there have been reports of extortion and other forms of crime.

Consequently, the livelihoods of the people and the economy of the state in general have also been severely affected by prolonged violence and lawlessness, he said.

“I often wonder whether such a violent crisis would have been allowed to linger for so long if it had involved the so-called ‘mainstream’ or ‘mainland’ India (such as in states like UP, Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra).

“Indeed, I deeply regret that the lives of the people in Manipur do not seem to matter to this government of India, of which you are a prominent leader,” Mr Akoijam said.

“I am sure that you would have been deeply hurt if the same case were to happen to Gujarat, your own home state, like any other Gujarati would have understandably felt,” he said.

Mr Akoijam called for immediate “corrective measures” and other necessary steps to restore peace and normalcy in the state of Manipur.

He urged Mr Shah to ensure that the security forces act decisively and judiciously to rein in the violence.

“Investigate reports of the units of security agencies/forces acting in a partisan manner during the ongoing crisis, and take steps to address trust deficits and ensure accountability if the allegations are found to be true,” he said in his letter to Mr Shah.

Mr Akoijam called for rejecting the “exclusivist identity politics which is fuelling the crisis” by firmly and categorically declaring that administrative reforms can be entertained only to ensure that public goods and services are delivered effectively and fairly to the people, rather than “reinforcing exclusivist identities that create divisions in society and polity”.

Mr Akoijam also called for the inquiry committee, established in June 2023 and headed by former Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba to complete its work and release its findings without further delay.

He urged Mr Shah to take concrete steps to address the suffering of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and ensure their resettlement in their original homes with dignity and well-being.

He called for restoring the free movement of goods and people on the highways with full security by implementing measures, including the deployment of adequate armed forces.

“Additionally, as the economy of Manipur has been devastated by this violence, urgently address the issue of fiscal relief, including tax exemptions, with the relevant ministry,” he said.

Mr Akoijam also called for thoroughly investigating the allegations of involvement by illegal immigrants, foreign elements and illicit drug mafia in the present crisis.

If found to be true, take necessary steps to check and repel such involvement, he added.

The Congress MP said necessary institutional and judicious measures are needed to delineate citizens from non-citizens in the state.

Mr Akoijam also called for a review of existing policies and measures with armed groups, particularly the controversial Suspension of Operations (SoO) with the “Kuki” armed groups in the state, to ensure that such measures do not become a breeding ground for violence and illegal activities.

He also batted for initiating dialogue among the people and healing processes to address the trauma caused by this unprecedented tragedy in the state.

Mr Akoijam’s remarks come amid an escalation of violence in Manipur. The state government on Tuesday suspended internet services in five valley districts amid intensified agitation by students.

The decision was taken to curb the use of social media for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video, the state home department said in a notification.

Also, prohibitory orders were imposed in three districts of Manipur. An indefinite curfew, preventing people from coming outside their houses, was clamped in Imphal East and West districts, while prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of BNSS were imposed in Thoubal.

Clashes between Meitei and Kukis have left over 200 people dead and thousands homeless since May last year. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)